SPC responds to B&NES Council’s Budget consultation 2024 to 2025: ‘Parking charge increases and implementation of new emissions based charging’

Update November 2024: SPC has been informed that emissions based charging will apply at B&NES Council’s car parks in Keynsham from today (5 November 2024), and at The Shallows car park in Saltford from 1 April 2025 (when seasonal charges apply). In Keynsham, the 30 minutes free parking in dedicated bays will remain. Parking at B&NES Council’s three Park & Ride sites will remain free for those using the bus service.

B&NES Council has published an article on its Newsroom page titled ‘Changes made to proposed parking charges following feedback‘, please view for further information.

SPC has been informed by B&NES Ward Cllr Duncan Hounsell that the increase in charges in Saltford at The Shallows car par) will be as follows: Up to 1 hours, £0.40 to £0.80, Up to 2 hours, £0.80 to £1.30, Up to 3 hours, £1.20 to £1.80. B&NES Council has shared that signage will be updated to reflect the new charging structure and advises customers to check this signage when paying for their stays. 

No charges apply at B&NES Council’s Wedmore Rd car park near Saltford Hall / Saltford Sports Club, or at the parade of shops by the A4, so there is no impact at these locations.

SPC opposed emissions-based charging in Saltford in its response to B&NES Council’s consultation, as resolved at its January 2024 meeting. Please see the article below.

Original article:

At its January meeting, SPC resolved to respond to the ‘B&NES Council Budget consultation 2024 to 2025’ with regards to the Highways section titled ‘Parking charge increases and implementation of new emissions-based parking charges’.

Ahead of the meeting, SPC had received information from B&NES Council that the consultation related to B&NES Council’s The Shallows car park only, and that no new parking charges at other B&NES car parks (or marked public parking bays) in Saltford were planned.

Residents can have their say on B&NES Council’s Budget Proposals for 2024 2025, visit the B&NES Council Consultation page at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2024-2025 to respond via the ‘online consultation’ option or by post, by 5pm on 15 January 2024. The section under ‘Highways’ is where emissions based charging in Saltford is mentioned.

SPC resolved the following response, which has been submitted to B&NES Council:

Based on information received from B&NES Council on request regarding the B&NES Council Budget Consultation 2024/25, Saltford Parish Council understands that the consultation on emissions-based charges refers to B&NES Council’s The Shallows car park only, as the sole location in Saltford where public parking charges apply. Should this not be the case (as parking locations for Saltford were not specified in the consultation), Saltford Parish Council wishes to make B&NES Council aware that it is strongly of the opinion that no parking charges should be introduced at any other B&NES Council car parks and/or marked parking bays in Saltford.

Saltford Parish Council acknowledges that cleaner (lower emission) vehicles are required. However it recognises that The Shallows car park in Saltford, unlike many other B&NES Council car parks, is primarily for recreational use by those seeking to enjoy Saltford’s natural environment and historic conservation area. As such, charges should not discriminate against low-income residents and visitors who are less likely to drive newer vehicles with cleaner exhausts.

Saltford Parish Council views that by making users of vehicles with dirtier exhausts pay more to park at The Shallows car park (albeit a smaller incremental amount due to the comparatively low charge compared to other B&NES Car Parks) this could increase visitor parking on the nearby narrow highway where permitted, which is already heavily in demand by residents (many of whom do not have access to off-street parking). This could also raise concerns about the impact on local air quality.

Saltford Parish Council views that it is for the Government to create the economic conditions and incentives for people to transition to cleaner vehicles, not local car parking policies at recreational locations.